Head-check loop



(No Model.)

J. H, RAPFERTY.

HEAD CHECK LOOP.

N0.420,244. Patented Jan. 28, 1890.

A TTORNEYS.

N. ETERS'PIwio-Lmnogmphw. wzillingtun, u. c.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT JOHN H. RAFFERTY, ()F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

HEAD-CHECK LOOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,244, dated January28, 1890.

Serial No, 309,205. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. RAFFERTY, of \Vorcester, in the county of\Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and ImprovedHead-Check Loop, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to a loop device adapted more especially to holdhead-checkreins to the crown-strap of a harness-bridle, but adapted alsofor use as a driving-rein loop; and the invention has for its object toprovide a simple, inexpensive, ornamental, and reliable loop of thischaracter.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction of therein-loop, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fore part of a horse and harness,and illustrates the use of my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofone of the head-check loops in closed condition, and Fig. 3 shows one ofthe loops open ready to receive the checkrein.

The head-check loop A consists, mainly, of two open or partial rings B0, one fitted for rotation or partial rotation on or in the other. Thering B, having an opening I), is preferably provided opposite saidopening with a pair of prongs (Z d, which are passed through thecrown-strap D of a bridle and clinched at the under side or face of thestrap; but I am not limited to the use of any particular means by whichto attach the ring B or the head-check loop to the crown-strap, or toany other portion of a harness to which the loop is adapted for serviceas a rein loop or guide. For instance, I may use rivets to hold the ringto the strap or to a saddle.

I show the ring 0, having an opening 0 about the same size as theopening I) of the ring B, and held not too loosely within said ring bytwo side lips or flanges c c, which are upset about at right angles ateach edge of the outer ring. These lips or flanges 0' preferably extendclear around the edges of the ring 0, and are serrated at theirperipheries or margins, which project a trifle beyond the outer face ofthe outer ring B, to allow the inner ring to be conveniently turned inthe outer one. The openings be of the two rings are onlywide enough toallow a checkreina rounded rein more especially to be passed sidewisethrough them into the loop.

The operation of the device is very simple and effective, as follows:When the loop-ring C is turned upon the relatively-fixed ring B untilthe openings 0 b of the two rings coincide, and as shown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings, the two branches of the head-checkrein Ewill be slippedsidewise into the loops A A before the rein is engaged with thewater-hook F, and the loop-rings C will then be turned to bring theiropenings 0 lowermost, or out of register with the openings 1) of theloop-rings B, and cause the rings C to close the openings 19 of therings B, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and thereby securely lockthe headcheckrein to and within the loops.

The herein-described rein-loop may be made large enough to accommodate afiat checkrein, which it will hold quite as securely as a round rein;but I prefer to make the loops as small as practicable, and for useparticularly with round reins, which will be not much smaller than theloops, which, While holding the checkrein securely against shpping out,will scarcely be noticeable on the harness, or will be very much smallerand more neat-looking than checkrein-loops of other pattern. The loopsmay be made of any suitable material, metal, either nickel or silver orgold plated, being preferredto give the loops a highly ornate finish.

I am aware that a key-ring has before been made of two flat split oropen rings placed face to face within a third flanged ring, also split,to allow insertion of keys, and holding them when the slits of the ringsare thrown out of register; but this device is quite impracticable forservice as a check or driving rein loop, as its inner face or openingpresents several more or less sharp transverse joint edges, across whicha rein would draw to quickly wear and out it. My loop is readilydistinguishable from this key-ring device in that the inner face oropening of the loop is devoid of sharp edges, which would tend to cutthe rein, and this would be the case were the ring B provided with'inbent flanges at opposite edges of the ring 0, if said flanges did notextend to the inner face or opening of the latter ring; but theconstruction with the flanges on the ring 0, as shown and described, ispreferred in practice.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A head check or rein loop consisting of two open rings, one inclosingthe other and fitted for rotation one on the other, and means forattaching it to a harness strap or saddle, the inner face of the loopover which the rein draws being continuous or unbroken transversely,substantially as described,

whereby cutting of a rein confined in the 20 loop is prevented, as setforth.

2. A head check or rein loop consisting of a ring 13, open at b, and aring 0, open at c- 'JOHN H. RAFFERTY.

Witnesses:

F. A. ALDRICH, B. G. CLAPP.

